this doom: foretold that a spirit of slumber should be given them, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear.

How, then, did they act, to deserve this awful sentence?

They read the Scriptures partially. They took the passages which favoured their nation, and overlooked the many passages which denounce woe against those who, professing to know God, yet in works deny him. They said, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are we :" but they did not perceive that "the temple of the Lord is holy:" and when it ceases to be holy, can be his no longer. Thus, in the words of David, their table became a snare to them. The Scriptures which were intended for their nourishment, became as it were their poison. They extracted the promises, and omitted the commands.

Further, they desired their own glory, not the glory of God. Instead of praying that all nations should come and worship him, they were moved with envy when they saw the multitudes come together to hear the word of God.5 They said to the Gentile, "Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou." And, worse still, they would forbid the means by which the Gentiles might be brought to holiness. This was a state of treason against God and their fellow-creatures. It justly deserved that they should be humbled and bowed down, who had hitherto been bowing down the backs of others. Therefore Isaiah's prophecy is accomplished. "The 5 See Acts xiii. 44, 45. 7 1 Thess. ii. 16.

4 See Jerem. vii. 4.
6 Isa. lxv. 5.

Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.”8 He has closed the eyes which would not see: has allowed the hearts which would not be roused to remain in slumber, till "sudden destruction come upon them unawares." For "the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me;-therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."9

The doom of Jerusalem is the doom of all who act after the manner of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: who by vain excuses, or unfounded hopes, or bigoted prejudices, blind their minds against the light of the Gospel. The Lord Jesus, when he beheld the fated city, wept over it. And we may well weep over those who follow their example of unbelief, and say "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes.'

"1

8 Isa. xxix. 10.

9 Ib. 13.

1 Luke xix. 42.

M

LECTURE XXXII.

THE GENTILES AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH TO THE JEWS: AND THE JEWS TO THE GENTILES AN EXAMPLE OF UNBELIEF.

ROMANS Xi. 11—24.

11. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

It was acknowledged, and could not be denied, that the Jewish nation had forfeited the divine fa

vour. They "stumbled at that stumbling stone," which, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, had been "set in Sion." Instead of a rock of safety, it had proved a rock of offence" to them.

66

stumble, and not fall utterly or finally.

But one may

Paul hopes

this of his countrymen. Have they stumbled that they should fall, so fall as to rise no more? God forbid. Let us rather say that salvation is come to the Gentiles, than that the Jews have lost salvation: let us rather hope, that seeing the humble obedience of the Gentiles, who receive the word, the Jews may be provoked to jealousy animated by their example, to follow their steps.

This would have been the effect, if they had been rightly disposed, and filled with love of God or man. It was thus with Peter and his companions in the house of Cornelius at Cæsarea. (Acts x. 44.) Whilst

1 Ch. ix. 33; see Is. viii. 14, 15.

Peter was expounding to the company assembled there the truths of the Gospel, "the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word." The Jewish disciples who were with Peter were astonished: it had never entered into the minds of these good men that a spiritual gift could be bestowed on an uncircumcised heathen. But they did not "withstand God," when such plain evidence made his purpose manifest. "Then answered Peter and said, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"3 So likewise when certain of the early converts were led by a laudable zeal to "speak unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus, and a great number of them believed and turned unto the Lord;" the church at Jerusalem was surprised, but not angered, at the tidings. (Acts xi. 20-23.) They did not murmur, and complain that Greeks had been brought into the temple, and "the holy place polluted:" but they inquired, Is it the Lord's doing? They sent down Barnabas to examine this new thing, that God had granted unto the Gentiles also repentance unto life. And he, when he came to Antioch, and "had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

Very different was the scene in Pisidia, when there was a like stir, and "almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God." (Acts xiii. 43-50.) A pious mind would have rejoiced, would have acknowledged in this movement the fulfilling of the pro

2 Acts xi. 17.

4 See Acts xxi. 28.

3 Ib. x. 47.

phecies, which had promised light to the Gentiles, and salvation to the ends of the earth. "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” The feeling which arose in their minds ought properly to have been a holy jealousy. Since God has made no difference between us and them, and they like ourselves are become partakers of his grace, let us "provoke one another to love and good works," and strive together, which party may prove the most faithful "stewards of his gifts." And this Paul still prayed might ensue: and that his Jewish countrymen, when they saw their Gentile neighbours "walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost," might be provoked to emulation, and he might save some of them. This, he says, would be a blessed consummation. He kindles at the thought,

and rejoices in such a prospect, with its glorious consequences. If the Gospel, rejected by the Jews, enriches the Gentiles with the possession of an unlooked-for treasure; how much more would they be enriched if the Jews were to be restored to God's favour, and "filled with all the fulness" of Christ? Such an accomplishment of prophecy, such a manifestation of God's goodness, what would it not effect?

12. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.